Yahoo Sports Man City vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League team news, line-ups and more ahead of vital derby
In the midst of a horror run, Manchester City will hope the rivalry and rancour of derby day can provide a lift as Manchester United visit the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won just once in their last 10 games with both their Premier League title challenge and hopes of qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds taking a significant blow. To make matters worse, Guardiola is facing a defensive crisis this afternoon with Rico Lewis suspended and several other regular starters out, leaving the Catalan coach to consider radical solutions to spark a turnaround in form.
For Ruben Amorim, this will be a first taste of a famous fixture as the Portuguese manager continues to search for his best system and side. Amorim was pleased with the fight his team showed in the Europa League win on Thursday night but a mixed record since his arrival reflects the teething problems evident throughout his tenure so far. Can he become only the sixth manager to win their first Manchester derby in the Premier League era?
Follow all of the latest from the Manchester derby in our live blog below:
Manchester derby LIVE
Man City host Man Utd, with kick off at 4.30pm GMT
Pep Guardiola’s side are in the midst of a horror run
Utd are hoping to bounce back from a loss to Forest last time out
Manchester City FC - Manchester United FC
Dan Ashworth’s departure puts an end to Manchester United’s latest farce
14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Having pursued Ashworth so relentlessly, and having forked out a significant sum to recruit him from Newcastle, the sporting director’s departure was more than a little peculiar. Richard Jolly looks at a strange situation:
Dan Ashworth’s departure puts an end to Manchester United’s latest farce
Ruben Amorim makes frank admission over Dan Ashworth’s Manchester United exit
13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
While events at Manchester City may be more accurately described as a crisis, it’s been another turbulent week at Manchester United. Sporting director Dan Ashworth left the club on Sunday just five months after taking up his role.
Ruben Amorim makes frank admission over Dan Ashworth’s Manchester United exit
Rasmus Hojlund says Manchester United need more time to adapt: ‘We train during the matches’
13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
These are still embryonic days for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, with a new system taking some adjusting to. Rasmus Hojlund has issued a plea for patience as the club work through some teething problems.
Rasmus Hojlund says Man Utd need more time to adapt: ‘We train during the matches’
Bruno Fernandes urges United to forget City’s problems and focus on own issues
13:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United must focus on fixing their own problems ahead of the derby rather than thinking about Manchester City’s miserable recent form.
Bruno Fernandes urges United to forget City’s problems and focus on own issues
Ruben Amorim says Man Utd ‘my only option’ as he dismisses Man City speculation
13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ruben Amorim says he never spoke to Manchester City about becoming Pep Guardiola’s replacement as the Manchester United head coach prepares for his first derby in charge.
The 39-year-old established himself as one of Europe’s finest up-and-coming coaches with his transformational work at Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.
United quickly moved to appoint Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag in late October, when he had been linked to City amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.
Ruben Amorim dismisses Man City links and declares Man Utd his ‘only option’
Man City set to spend big on transfers after revealing latest financial accounts
12:45 , Richard Jolly
Manchester City are in a position to go on a vast spending spree next summer after posting a profit of £73m in the 2023-24 financial year and with player sales giving them huge leeway to buy within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) .
City made a profit of £139m on transfers in a year when they sold Cole Palmer, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez which could help fund an overhaul of Pep Guardiola’s ageing squad.
Man City set to spend big on transfers after revealing latest financial accounts
Former England manager accuses Pep Guardiola of ‘losing trophies’ due to ‘arrogance’
12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Is Pep Guardiola “arrogant”? And is that quality costing his sides trophies? Fabio Capello certainly thinks so...
Former England manager accuses Pep Guardiola of ‘losing trophies’ due to ‘arrogance’
Why Ilkay Gundogan’s assessment of Man City is so alarming for Pep Guardiola
12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And Pep Guardiola wasn’t the only Manchester City employee questioning their direction after the Juventus defeat, as Richard Jolly explains:
Why Ilkay Gundogan’s assessment of Man City is so alarming for Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola ‘questioning himself’ as Man City suffer another defeat
12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Pep Guardiola admitted he is questioning himself after Manchester City’s latest defeat left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages.
City slumped to their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions as they were beaten 2-0 at Juventus in their latest European outing on Wednesday.
Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the standings.
Pep Guardiola ‘questioning himself’ as Man City suffer another defeat
Manchester derby LIVE
Friday 13 December 2024 13:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A very good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the Manchester derby. These are rocky times for Manchester City as both domestic and continental campaigns threaten to come off the rails amid a wretched recent run, with Pep Guardiola admitting that nine defeats in ten games had taken a significant toll on him and his squad. Can their cross-town rivals pile on more pain as Ruben Amorim experiences derby day for the first time as Manchester United manager?
Kick off is at 4.30pm GMT.
